OBJECTIVE: To analyze high-frequency hearing thresholds at 10 kHz, 12 kHz, 14 kHz, and 16 kHz in normal hearing adults with and without tinnitus, and to identify any differences with respect to age, sex, and ear. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated 145 subjects aged 18 to 35 years, 65 of whom complained of tinnitus. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests as well as Spearman's correlation coefficient with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Individuals with tinnitus were found to have significantly higher thresholds at all frequencies, and women had significantly lower thresholds than men for almost all frequencies. For both sexes, a significant positive correlation between age and hearing threshold at 10 kHz was detected in both ears (p = 0.047 and p = 0.005) among individuals without tinnitus, and between age and hearing threshold at 16kHz in the left ear (p = 0.029) for individuals with tinnitus. When thresholds were compared between ears and tinnitus location, significant differences were only observed at 16 kHz in both ears, with higher thresholds when tinnitus occurred. CONCLUSION: Individuals with tinnitus had significantly higher hearing thresholds at all frequencies tested. When hearing thresholds were compared between ears and with location of tinnitus, a significant difference was only detected at 16 kHz.
